Rev. Roy Edward Williams, Sr., the sixth of fourteen children, was born on July 18, 1937 in Gurley, Alabama. He was the son of the late Willie T. Williams and the late Scottie Bone Williams. He attended Council Training School in Normal, Alabama and was a proud graduate of the Class of 1957. After graduation, he spent four years in the United States Air Force. Later in life, he attended Alabama A&M University and enrolled in several business courses.
In his younger years, Rev. Williams was a great baseball player and played for a team in the Hurricane community. He was known for his speed, and could steal bases like it was nothing.
Sixty-five and a half years ago, on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1956, he was joined in Holy Matrimony to his high school sweetheart, the former Ada Florence Hardin of Toney, Alabama (The Mount Lebanon Community). To this union, one son was born, Roy Jr.
Rev. Williams, for many years, worked in the Sanitation Department for the City of Huntsville, and eventually was promoted to Superintendent of Sanitation. Upon his retirement from the City of Huntsville, he fulfilled a long-time vision from God by starting his own business. On December 7, 1987, he became the proud owner of Williams Books & Church Supplies, a Christian bookstore and church supply store located in Decatur, Alabama. Rev. Williams often told people that “God owns this store but allows me to operate it”. After thirty-two years of business, Rev. Williams retired and sold the business on December 31, 2019.
Rev. Williams began his Christian journey when accepted Christ into his life in the year of 1963. He became affiliated with the Hurricane Chapel Missionary Baptist Church (County Lake Road location) under the pastoral guidance of the late Rev. W.P. Petty. Rev. Williams was a member of Choir #2 where he served as President. He had a love for the youth, so he became a Youth Advisor. Later, he became a deacon until his calling into the ministry. He pastored three churches: Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in New Market, Alabama (1972-1978); Canaan Missionary Baptist Church in Hillsboro, Alabama (1979-1989); and Hurricane Chapel Missionary Baptist Church (1995). While pastoring Hopewell, he served a term as Moderator of the Mud Creek North Alabama Missionary Baptist Association. While pastoring Canaan, he served as president of the Lawrence County Ministerial Fellowship. He later became a member of the Owens Chapel Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. D. H. Wendell Thompson. Presently, he served as associate minister at the Zion Progress Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Hernandez Ford. Rev. Williams was a Sunday School lover, and always enjoyed engaging in a conversation about the word of God. He also had a great sense of humor that will be greatly missed.
God saw that Rev. Williams grew tired and weary from his pains. Our prayers that he not suffer long were answered on Monday Afternoon, September 27, at 12:45 p.m. at Huntsville Hospital. God whispered to him, “Servant, your work is well done. Come take your rest.” He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie T. and Scottie Bone Williams, and five siblings: Willie, John, Harvey, Randall, and Olivia Williams.
Those who fondly remember and cherish the roles he played in life include: his devoted and loving wife of 65-1/2 years, Ada Hardin Williams; one loyal and caring son, Roy E. Williams, Jr., both of Huntsville, AL; four sisters: Katherine W. Hudson, Minnie W. Haynie, Barbara W. (Booker) Weaver, and Minister Carolyn (John) Butler; one brother, Gregory (Hazel) Williams, all of Huntsville, AL; two sisters-in-law, Ella H. Ford of Toney, AL and Mattie (Jesse) Alston of Chicago, IL; five brothers-in-law, David Carlton (Julia) Hardin, Robert Leroy (Joyce) Hardin, Robert Pruitt, Jr., all of Toney, AL, Joe (Mary) Hardin of Ardmore, AL, and Clifford (Doris) Hardin of Meridianville, AL; a god daughter, Janelle Wallace of Raleigh, NC. He also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and the Zion Progress church family.
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Funeral service for The Reverend Roy E. Williams, Sr. will be Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Hernandez Ford officiating. Interment will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens.
The funeral will stream live from this link: https://vimeo.com/event/1334690/74f14c25ef
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